{"id":12203,"date":"2026-08-14T06:28:42","date_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:28:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=12203"},"modified":"2026-08-14T06:28:42","modified_gmt":"2026-08-14T06:28:42","slug":"full-support-for-infantino-six-arab-federations-defy-growing-revolt-over-world-cup-plan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/?p=12203","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Full support\u2019 for Infantino: Six Arab federations defy growing revolt over World Cup plan"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"e9jwa\">\n<div class=\"vdo_embedd\">\n<div class=\"GfdvZ\">\n<section class=\"_bIDB  clearfix id-r-component leadmedia undefined undefined  E9tg9 \" style=\"top:0px\">\n<div class=\"_bIDB\" data-ua-type=\"1\" onclick=\"stpPgtnAndPrvntDefault(event)\">\n<div class=\"ypVvZ\">\n<div class=\"WGttI\"><img src=\"https:\/\/static.toiimg.com\/thumb\/msid-133229257,imgsize-53830,width-400,height-225,resizemode-4\/fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg\" alt=\"\u2018Full support\u2019 for Infantino: Six Arab federations defy growing revolt over World Cup plan\" title=\"File Pic: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (AP Photo)\" decoding=\"async\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"Ta7d_ img_cptn\"><span title=\"File Pic: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (AP Photo)\">File Pic: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (AP Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Six Arab football federations have thrown their weight behind Gianni Infantino, declaring their \u201cfull support\u201d for the embattled FIFA president as opposition to his controversial World Cup investment plan continues to grow.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"2\"\/>The backing came from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan on Thursday, with four of the six federation chiefs also serving on the FIFA Council. Their public show of support comes days after Infantino withdrew a proposed USD 20 billion private investment plan linked to the World Cup following a fierce backlash from football officials around the world.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"4\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"6\"\/>\u201cWe, the undersigned leaders of our respective football associations, express our full support for Mr. <!-- -->Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, and reaffirm our confidence in his leadership and continued commitment to the development of football worldwide,\u201d the statement said.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"11\"\/>The six leaders also praised Infantino\u2019s efforts to expand football opportunities globally and said they looked forward to continuing their cooperation with him.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"13\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Arab support clashes with continental stance<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"15\"\/>The declaration has exposed a growing divide within the Asian football bloc, with Qatar and Lebanon backing Infantino despite the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) joining the opposition to his World Cup proposal.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"18\"\/>The AFC, <a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/topic\/uefa\" styleobj=\"[object Object]\" class=\"\" commonstate=\"[object Object]\" frmappuse=\"1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">UEFA<\/a> and CONCACAF issued a strongly worded open letter on Monday, calling Infantino\u2019s proposal a \u201cfundamental breach of trust\u201d and accusing FIFA of \u201cdeception\u201d. UEFA has also warned that European football could consider boycotting FIFA competitions and events if concerns surrounding the proposal are not addressed.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"22\"\/>The contrasting positions of Qatar and Lebanon are particularly notable because both are AFC members. <!-- -->Their federation presidents have now publicly backed Infantino despite their continental body\u2019s criticism of the FIFA president.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"26\"\/>The four FIFA Council members among Thursday\u2019s signatories are Qatar Football Association president Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Egyptian Football Association president Hany Abo Rida, Moroccan Football Federation president Fouzi Lekjaa and Mauritanian Football Federation president Ahmed Yahya. <!-- -->Lebanon\u2019s Hashem Haidar and Sudan\u2019s Moatasem Gafar completed the list.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"30\"\/>Morocco, which will co-host the 2030 World Cup, has also previously appeared among the federations whose support for Infantino was highlighted on his official Instagram account.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"32\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"34\"\/><\/p>\n<p><h2>Pressure mounts despite Arab backing<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"36\"\/>Infantino\u2019s position has come under increasing pressure since his investment proposal triggered a backlash among FIFA\u2019s member associations and continental confederations.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"39\"\/>The Football Association of Ireland announced on Thursday that it had withdrawn its support for Infantino\u2019s re-election, citing concerns over governance, transparency and consultation. England and Wales had taken a similar position last week, while Northern Ireland said it supported UEFA\u2019s stance.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"42\"\/>New Zealand Football has also withdrawn its support for Infantino\u2019s candidature and called for an independent review of the development of the FIFA Forward Enterprise scheme, saying recent decisions had contributed to a breakdown in trust within world football.<span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"45\"\/><span class=\"id-r-component br\" data-pos=\"47\"\/>Infantino, FIFA president since 2016, had appeared almost certain to secure another term unopposed at next year\u2019s election in Morocco. However, FIFA has set November 18 as the deadline for potential challengers, leaving the door open for the growing opposition to turn into a formal electoral challenge.<\/div>\n<p><br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/timesofindia.indiatimes.com\/sports\/football\/top-stories\/full-support-for-infantino-six-arab-federations-defy-growing-revolt-over-world-cup-plan\/articleshow\/133229239.cms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>File Pic: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (AP Photo) Six Arab football federations have thrown their weight behind Gianni Infantino, declaring their \u201cfull support\u201d for the embattled FIFA president as opposition to his controversial World Cup investment plan continues to grow.The backing came from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan on Thursday, with four of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":12204,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12203","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-31"],"magazineBlocksPostFeaturedMedia":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","medium_large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","1536x1536":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","2048x2048":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-small":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-small-tall":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-small-square":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-small-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-medium":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-medium-masonry":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-large":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg","blogsy-wide":"https:\/\/koshalsambada.in\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/1786688923_fifa-president-gianni-infantino.jpg"},"magazineBlocksPostAuthor":{"name":"admin","avatar":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8709732a479614e7a8aa24d3eb1b239f30dc6d90c61464ed495001e7a469d856?s=96&d=mm&r=g"},"magazineBlocksPostCommentsNumber":"0","magazineBlocksPostExcerpt":"File Pic: FIFA President Gianni Infantino (AP Photo) Six Arab football federations have thrown their weight behind Gianni Infantino, declaring their \u201cfull support\u201d for the embattled FIFA president as opposition to his controversial World Cup investment plan continues to grow.The backing came from Morocco, Qatar, Egypt, Mauritania, Lebanon and Sudan on Thursday, with four of [&hellip;]","magazineBlocksPostCategories":["\u0b26\u0b47\u0b36 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